Pallet

ABSTRACT

A pallet formed from plastic material including means to permit four-way entry. Encircled sockets are provided on two side faces of the pallet to permit the tines of a forklift truck to engage the pallet. The other two side faces of the pallet have openings to permit the tines of a hand truck to enter and engage the pallet. The pallet is constructed and arranged to provide substantial structural strength with minimum weight and is provided with a top non-skid surface.

United States Patent Coccagna et al. [4 1- July 18, 1972 541' PALLET2,870,980 mm [72] Inventors: Danlel T. Coccagna, 417 Jonathan Place,Philadelphia, Pa. l5; Salah Eldill A. El Damati, 6607 Bonnie Ridge DriveApt. 3:207:095 9 9 5 No. 201, Mount Washington, Baltimore, Md. 21209 22Filed: I Jan.4,1971 211 Appl.No.: 103,455

2,651,486 9/1953 Woodward ..lO8/57 3,511,191 5/1970 Barry,Jr.etal...108/58 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Glenn O.Finch Attorney-Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [57] ABSTRACT A pallet formedfrom plastic material including means to permit four-way entry.Encircled sockets are provided on two side faces of the pallet to pemiitthe tines of a forklift truck to 2 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures PatentedJuly 18, 1972 49 nvvewroes SALAH 51.0w A. ELDAMAT/ DAN/EL r. COCCAGNAWM/Mavfi ATTORNE 7S PALLET The present invention relates to a pallet andmore particularly to a pallet which can be moved by either a forklifttruck or a hand truck.

Molded plastic pallets are known in the art, see, for example, US. Pat.Nos. 3,359,929 and 3,481,285. Also, molded thermoplastic pallets areknown, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,191.

Various types of pellets have been suggested over the years. By far, inrecent years, the most widely used pallets are constructed of wood. Theever increasing expense of wooden pallets is due not only to the cost oflumber but also to the cost of labor-required to construct the pallet.While many different types of plastic pallets have been proposed, theyhave not met with universal acceptance. It is necessary that the pallethave substantial strength and, to achieve universality of use, it mustpermit four-way entry. Even pallets which permit four-way entry, to beuniversally accepted, should permit both the use of a forklift truckanda hand truck.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet composed ofplastic material which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art pallets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pallet whichis light in weight and which can be moved by either a forklift truck ora hand truck.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a palletwhich will be attractive in appearance and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a palletwhich has a non-skid top surface and which has substantial structuralstrength.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The present invention is directed to a plastic pallet which may beinjection molded. A desirable pallet size according to the presentinvention includes a top pallet surface of approximately 42 inches X 46inches with the height of the pallet being approximately 4% inches. Theexact dimensions of the pallet may be modified to meet specificrequirements.

The top surface of the pallet may be provided with a plurality ofgrooves therein to both minimize weight of the pallet and provide anon-skid top surface. The pallet is provided with a center base supportwhich extends across the entire width of the pallet. The top surface ofthe pallet may have three support beams formed integrally therewithwhich extend from the underside of the top surface. Two of the supportbeams preferably lie along two of the outer edges of the pallet. Thethird support beam is preferably intermediate the two support beams andparallel thereto.

A center base support is spaced from the underside of the top surface ofthe pallet and has webs interconnecting the center base support to thethree support beams. The center base support extends transversely to thesupport beams.

The pallet further includes outer base supports lying along the othertwo outer edges of the pallet. The outer base supports are alsotransverse to the support beams and are interconnected to the supportbeams by interconnecting webs. The outer base supports have spacedopenings therein which, in part, form encircled sockets. The socketspermit the tines of a forklift truck to enter therein and provide arelatively close fit for such tines. The encircled sockets substantiallyprevent twisting of the pallet as it is lifted by the tines of theforklifi truck. The support beams are spaced from the bottom faces ofthe center and outer base supports to thereby define spaced openings atthe other two outer edges of the pallet to permit the tines of a handtruck to enter therein.

l-Ioles may be provided substantially at the corners of the pallets. Theholes may be approximately 1% inches in depth and may be adapted toreceive the ends of spacers therein. Alternatively, the holes may extendcompletely through the pallet. The spacers may be utilized to permitpallets having uneven loads thereon to be stacked. Each spacer will beprovided with reduced diameter end portions which will be received inthe holes at the comers of the pallet. Each spacer will also have aheavy body portion which will insure that the spacers will support theupper pallet.

The pallet may be composed of high density polyethylene or any othersuitable plastic material. The holes provided in the bottom of thepallet may be adapted to have casters inserted therein to permit thepallet to be rolled along the floor. In this manner, the pallet can beconverted into a dolly.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pallet embodying the figures ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the pallet of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicatelike elements throughout the several views, there is disclosed in FIGS.l-3 a pallet generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

Pallet 10 includes a top substantially planar surface 12 having grooves14 therein. The grooves 14 serve to both reduce the total weight of thepallet and also provide a non-skid surface for top surface 12.

The pallet 10 also includes a bottom face 16. The bottom face 16 hasouter beams 18 and 20 integrally formed therewith. A center beam 22 isalso formed integrally with bottom face 16. Center beam 22 is parallelto outer beams 18 and 20.

The pallet 10 is provided with outer base supports 24 and 26. A centerbase support 28 is also provided which may be approximately twice aswide as the outer base supports 24 and 26. Base supports 24, 26 and 28are substantially parallel. lnterconnecting webs 30, 32 and 34 securethe outer base support 24 to beams 18, 22 and 20, respectively.lnterconnecting webs 38, 40 and 42 secure base support 26 to beams 18,22 and 20, respectively. Interconnecting webs 44, 46 and 48 securecenter base support 28 to beams 18, 22 and 20, respectively. Allinterconnecting webs have widths at least equal to the width of thebeams so that the strength of the pallet is not impaired.

The bottom base supports 28 may have a groove 49 therein to furtherreduce the weight of the pallet and provide the bottom of the palletwith a non-skid surface. Alternatively, base supports 24, 26 and 28 canbe provided with numerous grooves therein.

Holes 50 may be provided at the corners of the pallet 10. The holes maybe provided immediately adjacent the corners of the pallet. Each of theholes should be approximately 1% inches deep. Holes 51 should also beprovided adjacent the comers in the outer base supports 24 and 26. Theholes 51 in the base supports are aligned with the holes 50 in thecomers of the pallet. Alternatively, the holes 50 could extendcompletely through the pallet 10.

Spacers 52 may be provided to permit stacking of pallets when loads onthe pallets are uneven. Each spacer 52 is provided with an enlarged bodyportion 54 and reduced diameter end portions 56. The reduced diameterend portions 56 are adapted to be received in holes 50 and 51. Thereduced diameter end portions of each spacer are adapted to be receivedin holes 50 in the top surface of the lowermost pallet and in the holes51 in the base supports of the uppermost pallet to permit stacking ofthe pallets. The reduced diameter end portions are approximately 1%inches in length. The body portions may be of any desired length and maybe varied depending upon the height of the load on the pallet.

Outer base support 24 and webs 32, 34 and 36 cooperate with the endfaces of beams 18, 22 and 20 and the bottom face 16 of the pallet 10 toform encircled sockets 21 and 23 at end face 25 of the pallet 10. Outerbase support 26 and webs 38, 40 and 42 cooperate with the outer faces ofbeams 18, 20 and 22 and bottom face 16 to define encircled sockets 27and 29 at end face 31 of the pallet. Outer beams 18 and 20 cooperatewith base supports 24, 28 and 26 to define openings at opposite endfaces 33 and 35 of the pallet.

The encircled sockets 21 and 23 or 27 and 29 are adapted to receive thetines of a forklift truck as shown in phantom line in FIG. 1. Theencircled sockets will prevent twisting of the pallet as it is initiallylifted from the floor. Further, the encircled sockets will serve toguide the tines of the forklift truck into engagement with the pallet.

The openings at end faces 33 and 35 of the pallet permit the tines of ahand truck to be rolled under the pallet as shown in phantom lines inFIG. 1. It is readily seen that the pallet of the present invention maybe utilized with either a forklift truck or a hand truck. Further, thepallet provided by the present invention has great structural strength.

Center base support 28 may have a width which equals approximately thecombined width of outer base supports 24 and 26. Each of the grooves 14may be 1% inches wide and approximately three-eighths inch deep. Theentire height of pallet may be approximately 4'r inches. Each of theopenings on faces 33 and 35 of pallet 10 may be approximately 10 inchesin width. Each of the socket openings on end faces 25 and 31 of pallet10 may be approximately 20 inches in width and 3% inches in height.

The present'invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. A pallet comprising a load supporting member, said member having atop face and a bottom face, three support beams, each of said supportbeams being connected to said load supporting member at said bottomface, two of said support beams lying along opposite edges of said loadsupporting member, said third support beam being disposed therebetweenin substantially parallel relation to said two support beams, three basesupports, each of said base supports being disposed transversely of saidsupport beams and in mutually parallel relation to each other, two ofsaid base supports lying along opposite edges of said load supportingmember, said third base support lying intermediate said first two basesupports and being substantially parallel thereto, each of said basesupports being spaced from said bottom face and said support beams by aplurality of webs, said webs coupling said base supports to said supportbeams, said pallet having spaced parallel elongated sockets forreceiving the'tines of a forklift truck, each of said sockets beingdefined by said bottom face, said support beams, said base supports andsaid webs, said sockets being parallel to said support beams, spacedelongated openingsdefined between adjacent base supports, one side ofeach of said openings comprising said support beams and the oppositeside being open so that the tines of a hand truck can be receivedtherein, said load support being a generally rectangular member, aplurality of spaced parallel grooves formed in said top face, saidgrooves being substantially equidistant from each other and providing anon-skid surface, said bottom face being continuous, said third basesupport being about as wide as the sum of thewidths of said first twobase supports, and said load supporting member, said support beams, saidwebs and said base supports are integrally formed from the samematerial.

2. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pallet is provided withholes at the comers thereof, coaxial holes being provided in the outerbase supports of said pallet to permit spacers to enter said holes tothereby facilitate stacking of pallets when uneven loads are provided onsaid pallet.

1. A pallet comprising a load supporting member, said member having atop face and a bottom face, three support beams, each of said supportbeams being connected to said load supporting member at said bottomface, two of said support beams lying along opposite edges of said loadsupporting member, said third support beam being disposed therebetweenin substantially parallel relation to said two support beams, three basesupports, each of said base supports being disposed transversely of saidsupport beams and in mutually parallel relation to each other, two ofsaid base supports lying along opposite edges of said load supportingmember, said third base support lying intermediate said first two basesupports and being substantially parallel thereto, each of said basesupports being spaced from said bottom face and said suppOrt beams by aplurality of webs, said webs coupling said base supports to said supportbeams, said pallet having spaced parallel elongated sockets forreceiving the tines of a forklift truck, each of said sockets beingdefined by said bottom face, said support beams, said base supports andsaid webs, said sockets being parallel to said support beams, spacedelongated openings defined between adjacent base supports, one side ofeach of said openings comprising said support beams and the oppositeside being open so that the tines of a hand truck can be receivedtherein, said load support being a generally rectangular member, aplurality of spaced parallel grooves formed in said top face, saidgrooves being substantially equidistant from each other and providing anon-skid surface, said bottom face being continuous, said third basesupport being about as wide as the sum of the widths of said first twobase supports, and said load supporting member, said support beams, saidwebs and said base supports are integrally formed from the samematerial.
 2. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pallet isprovided with holes at the corners thereof, coaxial holes being providedin the outer base supports of said pallet to permit spacers to entersaid holes to thereby facilitate stacking of pallets when uneven loadsare provided on said pallet.